Meet at group hotel in Ushuaia. KE Land Only package services begin with the overnight stay at the group hotel.

An opportunity to look around the world’s most southerly city. This is a contingency day in case of any delays to your international flights.

The morning is free for independent sightseeing in and around Ushuaia or for any last minute purchases you need for the trip. In the afternoon we embark on the M/S Expedition and settle in to our cabin. We gather for an initial briefing and enjoy our first sailing this evening through the Beagle Channel.

Our adventure begins with our passage east to the Falkland Islands. Today we have time to familiarise ourselves with the ship and its routines. There are several common areas including the lounge, dining hall, library, presentation room and outside viewing areas where we look out for our first sightings of icebergs, whales and albatross which follow in the ship's wake. We will also start our daily lectures and get to know the guides and crew.

The Falkland Islands provide a rare opportunity to witness the biological diversity and extraordinary scenery of the southern islands. Penguins and albatross are abundant here, and the world's largest colony of the endangered Black Browed albatross is found on Steeple Jason Island in the far northwest corner of the Falkland Islands. Using the ship's zodiacs to get in close or to make landings, we will visit a number of colonies to view the populations of albatross, Rockhopper Penguins, Gentoo Penguins, Southern Giant Petrels, Prions, Falkland Skuas, and Striated Cara-Caras. On board we will hear from our experts about the habitat and habits of these birds.

A further day to explore the Falkland Islands. We visit the capital, Port Stanley which provides an opportunity to meet the hardy local inhabitants. Originally strategically important as a deep water port for ships sailing through the Straits of Magellan, when the Panama Canal opened in 1914, the focus of Port Stanley's economy shifted to whaling and sealing. It became an important coaling station for the Royal Navy when steam took over from sail and when the airport was built in 1972, the town became a major staging point for the British Antarctic Survey. Most people will have heard of Port Stanley for the 10 weeks in 1982 when the town was occupied by an invading military force from Argentina. The British government sent a flotilla in response and after some skirmishes at sea including the sinking of two ships, the British surrounded Port Stanley and forced the surrender of the occupiers. Since 1982 the Falklands have received a lot of investment and today the economy is based on fishing and tourism, particularly eco and wildlife tourism. The town's architecture is a cross between Greenland and Suffolk with low storied housing in bright colours, splendid stone churches and traditional red post and telephone boxes.

Leaving the Falkland Islands we sailing east on a course for South Georgia Island. Our days at sea are filled with wildlife sightings including whales and slide shows from our team of experts to prepare us for landings.

All through our time on the MS Expedition we can attend lectures hosted throughout the day on everything from local wildlife to geology to history. The MS Expedition has one of the highest ratios of expedition team members to guests – with one expert for every ten guests there is always someone on hand to answer questions and provide greater insight and appreciation of the world at its extremes. The expedition team is comprised of professional and highly skilled historians, marine biologists, and naturalists who offer keen insight and a unique personal perspective to each and every adventure.

On the third day after leaving Port Stanley we will be in sight of South Georgia and depending on our progress may be able to make a landing on this day.

Spend three days exploring South Georgia Island if weather permits. Observe a large colony of King penguins, the second largest species of penguin that stand almost 100cm (3 ft) tall. Nearby islands are the nesting grounds for Wandering albatross, a species of albatross that only stays on land to breed and eat. Hopefully in the three days in the area the group will get a chance to spot one of these majestic sea birds during the small amount of time it spends on land.
We will visit Stromness where Shackleton reached after crossing the island's mountainous interior and his grave in the church at Grytviken where he died.

South Georgia is a British overseas territory which is just about as remote from Britain as it gets. The island was first claimed for Britain by Captain James Cook who made the first known landing in 1775. The island was named in honour of the then King George III. Throughout the 19th century South Georgia was a base for sealing and from the beginning of the 20th century this developed into whaling also. A Norwegian, Carl Anton Larsen, established the first land-based whaling station at Grytviken in 1904 which continued to operate for the next 60 years until whaling was ended. A total of seven whaling stations were established non the island all along the sheltered north coast. It was a harsh life in bitter conditions and not a particularly pleasant place to live with the stench of whale blubber filling the air. With the end of the whaling industry, the stations were abandoned and the hardy men left. The island is not entirely uninhabited though and the present residents are the British Government Officer, Deputy Postmaster and the various scientists, and support staff from the British Antarctic Survey who maintain scientific bases at Bird Island and at the capital, King Edward Point. There are also staff employed to run a museum in the original whaling station at Grytviken where some original buildings including the church have been preserved for posterity. A story which will forever be associated with South Georgia is that of Shackleton's epic voyage in a tiny boat across 800 miles of stormy Southern Ocean to land on South Georgia, resulting in the rescue of the marooned 22 men of his Imperial Trans-Antarctic Expedition of 1914–17.

There is so much to see on this very remote island of South Georgia that we have another day here to ensure that we can make the most of the experience.

We now turn south retracing Shackleton's route backwards as we head towards Elephant Island on the outer fringes of the South Shetland Islands. Shackleton's journey from Elephant Island in a ship's life boat christened the James Caird took him fifteen perilous days. We hope to do it in two! During the voyage we will once again be edified and entertained by our team of on-board experts and there are further opportunities for wildlife watching.

As we approach the South Shetlands our wildlife observations increase and we can see penguins gathering with their fast-growing chicks and whales in greater numbers, while seals haul out onto ice floes and beaches with numerous albatross and other seabirds trailing in our wake. Elephant Island is famously the place where the 28 men of Shackleton's expedition made landfall after their ship, the Endurance was crushed by pack ice in the Weddell Sea. After a harrowing journey over the ice and finally on the sea in three small lifeboats, they arrived on the barren and uninhabited Elephant Island - the only solid ground for miles. It was from here that Shackleton set off with five others to make the historic voyage to South Georgia, an incredible feat of navigation and seamanship by any standards.

This is what we've all been waiting for - a chance to explore step foot on the Great White Continent! Over the next few days the MS Expedition will navigate southwards making stops in the South Shetland Islands then through the Bransfield Strait and to the Antarctic Peninsula.

We experience some of the most unique wildlife viewing and inspiring scenery in the world while setting foot on the Antarctic continent. We attempt two shore landings per day, but the itinerary and daily schedule will be based on the local weather and ice conditions. The whole area teems with wildlife activity - Gentoo, Chinstrap and Adelie penguin rookeries with their fast-growing chicks, Orca, Humpback and Minke whales are seen, Weddell, Crabeater and Leopard seals haul out onto ice floes and beaches, and numerous albatross and other seabirds trail in our wake.

During the days here there may also be options to explore the coastline in sea kayaks and to spend a night camped on the Antarctic Peninsula itself. These are only available on certain departures.
Polar Plunge…You remembered to pack your bathing suit, right? Depending on weather conditions, you can opt to do the polar plunge and jump into the frigid waters of the Antarctic. Convince some of your fellow passengers to join and you’ll be left with an amazing group experience no one will ever forget!

On this through voyage we have extra days cruising in the Antarctic Peninsula. This enables us to go further to seek out the wildlife and also spending more time in certain areas if we have good sightings. If we have taken the kayaking option then we have more opportunity paddle in these serene peaceful waters.

These extra days also allow us to listen to further presentations by the staff. This will give us a superb insight into the wildlife and environment issues and we will come home feeling that we have gained a huge amount of knowledge about this amazing continent. This once in a lifetime trip and it is worth that little bit extra to spend extra time here.

We now head north again leaving this incredible continent and crossing over the 400-mile Drake Passage, named after the 16th century English explorer Sir Francis Drake. Over the two day crossing we enjoy some final lectures by our expedition staff who by now will be well known to us.

From the viewing decks we catch some final glimpses of the birds and whales in this extraordinary part of the world before relaxing in our comfortable cruise home as we return to Ushuaia.

Having arrived in Ushuaia during the night, we disembark the M/S Expedition in the morning. Ushuaia Airport transfers are provided.